Pictures of Mayflower Park and its long-lost paddling pool

It all began in the 1930s when the site of Mayflower Park, reclaimed from the River Test, came into the possession of the council as a result of a land exchange deal with the old Southern Railway.

A glimpse inside the 1938 record books reveals the initial, breathtaking vision.

The report of the time states: “The reclaimed land between the pier and the first of the Test Quays, No 101, is to become a place of public resort.

“Provision is made for a small car park near the entrance and a sunken garden surrounded by rock gardens and enclosing an ornamental pond with fountain, forms the approach to the ground.”

Artist impression of mayflower park and royal pier area from the 1950s for a proposed development called A Seaside Pavillion

It continues: “Model yachtsmen will at last see the fruition of their dreams, for the central figure is a model yacht lake planned to catch the prevailing south-west wind. It will be surrounded by paving and grass.

“At the north-west corner there will be a bandstand and pavilion facing the lake and simply designed shelters will be placed along the paved terraces overlooking the waterfront with seating for 275 people.

“There will be a children’s playground and sandpits and, to give a separate entrance to that area, a bridge over Docks Road is suggested.”

Hot weather pictures at Mayflower Park. 16th June 1986. 

But the Second World War and Southampton’s Blitz nightmare intervened, effectively ensuring the majority of the plans were never started.

However, in 1952-53, a promenade and children’s playground were provided, and in May 1955 the old Royal Pier recreation ground was formally renamed Mayflower Park.

In April 1957, more plans were drawn up aimed at “re-establishing a more direct relationship between the town and port”, with the radical idea of removing the Royal Pier at the centre of the proposals.

Mayflower Park holiday pics. 31st May 1971.

The London architects who drew up the scheme boldly announced: “The Royal Pier would be replaced by a jetty purely for use by Red Funnel Line steamers; and on Mayflower Park would be built a pavilion containing a dance hall for film shows, lectures or exhibitions, and a large public restaurant and bar which would have fine views up and down the water.”

But no part of the plan was acted upon, and by the 1960s the council was busy accumulating 6,000 tons of topsoil from surrounding areas to enable grass to grow on the site.

A putting green was also established and the park became a favourite spot to idle away summer afternoons and watch the comings and goings of the port.

Hot weather pictures at Mayflower Park. 16th June 1986.

Then, in 1999, came a plan which would have shattered the tranquillity.

A firm proposed setting up a theme park on the site for three weeks a year – one boasting some of the biggest white-knuckle rides in Europe.

It was, however, eventually confirmed that charging people to enter a public open space would have contravened the Hampshire Act of 1983 and been illegal.

It was also during the early 1990s that the popular paddling pool closed for more than two years on health and safety grounds.

This selection of photos from the Daily Echo archives will revive many happy memories of bygone summers in Mayflower Park.

Mayflower Park was packed with children and their parents in August 1966.

The pictures include one taken in June 1976, when Poole workmen moved in to make the paddling pool surface smoother.

In another picture, taken during the last week of August 1966, happy children splash excitedly in the pool. But in another shot – taken from the same spot in 2006 exactly 40 years later – there is not a soul in sight and the pool is empty.

Mayflower Park paddling pool.

The contrast could hardly be more dramatic – or depressingly stark.

The paddling pool was removed completely around 12 years ago.